SHANE FERGUSON is at the centre of an international tug of war between his native Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The Newcastle United young gun has been nothing short of a revelation in his handful of Toon appearances this season and the Magpies appear to have unearthed a real gem at no cost whatsoever.

The 19-year-old is now wanted by Eire, who feel they can enhance his prospects on the world stage after recently being overlooked by Nigel Worthington’s side at senior level.

A reliable FAI source has confirmed to the Chronicle that Ferguson is very much in the mind of boss Giovanni Trappatoni – and things could come to an interesting head when Northern Ireland meet the Republic in the Nations Cup on May 24 in the south of the country.

But when drawn on his international future, Ferguson said: “I’m just focusing on training hard and working hard with Newcastle United at the moment.

“That’s what I did during the international fortnight.

“I’ve had some games recently with the Northern Ireland Under-21s, but other than that I’ll just keep aiming to do well for my club and see what happens.”

But the Chronicle understands that privately Ferguson is seriously considering his international future and could yet follow the path of Preston North End ace Adam Barton, who used a FIFA loophole to switch allegiances.

FIFA decreed two years ago that a player who holds an Irish passport can also play for the Republic, if they have not already played a competitive game in either the European Championships or the World Cup – and Ferguson fits into that exact category.

Derry lad Ferguson has already been capped by Northern Ireland in an international friendly against Italy in a 4-1 defeat in Sardinia two years ago.

And Barton’s precedent means that Ferguson could yet play for Giovanni Trappatoni’s Boys In Green.

Barton starred for Northern Ireland against Morocco, but the Preston man has since begun playing for the Eire Under-21s.

Despite Ferguson’s rapid progress he could not even force his way on to the bench for Northern Ireland’s last two Euro 2012 qualifiers, with a defeat in Serbia followed by a 0-0 stalemate at Windsor Park against Slovenia.

Northern Irish president Jim Shaw was today cool on the situation but said: “We haven’t heard anything, but it would be another disappointment if Shane decided to go.”

Man United’s Darron Gibson is another player to opt for the Republic over Northern Ireland.

But no matter how Ferguson’s international future pans out, from a Newcastle point of view his emergence can only be deemed as another victory for the club’s Academy system.